Roethlisberger suspended by NFL

Ben Roethlisberger was suspended for six games on Wednesday for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, the NFL announced.

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback also was ordered to undergo a comprehensive behavioral evaluation. Commissioner Roger Goodell will evaluate
Roethlisberger's progress before the season and might consider reducing the suspension to four games.

The Rooneys aren't a family to tolerate much in the way of behavior issues. I think the team would've suspended him no matter what the NFL did. I
notice the Steelers' first 6 games are all on regional telecast. They don't play a national coverage game until their 7th.

Coincidence?

Leftwich will do ok as a short term fill in. The Steelers don't need him to throw 50 times a game.

Mmm, I'm a little torn on this whole thing ... for essentially, considering the absence of criminal evidence, they are essentially suspending him for
being a douchebag.

Having been in the night club business for the greater part of my life I can tell you for a fact that his behavior is pretty consistent with at least
half of professional athletes. Heck where mrs sdog works here in DC they have banned almost all the Redskins from the premises simply because
they're more hassle than they're worth. The Caps are on a short leash.

Mind you I am not in any way condoning what Ben did here, I just don't know, nor do most other people, know what it is that he did. Most of this
stems from being repeatedly accused but never prosecuted. I can also tell you that this is also rather common in clubs as you wouldn't believe the
amount of girls that throw themselves at athletes. Some for fun and games and others just to find a reason to sue and extort money.

I'm shocked these guys are even stupid enough to go out in clubs anymore ... still, six games for being a douche seems a little high.

I disagree. Anybody can screw up. He demonstrates a pattern of placing himself in situations where bad things happen. That goes beyond
douchebaggery all the way to plain stupid. He can do whatever he wants. He just needs to decide whether hanging out in the clubs is a better deal
than being the public face of an elite franchise and making more money than the GDP of some small countries.

Some of these guys think because they're rich and famous, they're immune to consequences. Sorry, you've got to be wealthy to reach that point.
Ben is rich. The guy that pays him is wealthy.

I think 6 games might be enough of a chain yank to get his attention. If it isn't, he'll be on the next plane to Oakland.

He demonstrates a pattern of placing himself in situations where bad things happen. That goes beyond douchebaggery all the way to plain stupid.

Granted, but I put it to you that for the most part what differentiates him with at least a half of his peers is a pattern of hanging out in clubs
where people talk. Again, please understand I am not condoning his behavior ... but in the clubs I worked at and owned, and the one's mrs sdog has
worked and is working at, we could have half the players of the local teams suspended on a permanent rotating basis given their nightly behavior.

Like I said in the previous post I am amazed that these guys even take the chance to go out, heck some of them aren't even smart enough to pay for a
driver that they can obviously afford and decide to drive home drunk every night lest they miss the opportunity to show off the phat rims on their new
Lambo. In the process playing career (or life threatening) Russian roulette on a weekly basis.

ETA: The cynic/realist in me sees these sort of suspensions as PR exercises to protect the NFL and Steeler brands more than anything else, plus it's
not like the Steelers are averse to saving 3 or so mil ... social virtues being the least relevant factors in such decision making. Keep in mind, not
only was Ben not found guilty of anything, he has never even been arrested!

Correction: It looks like the commish sent a memo just a few days ago to expand the policy in anticipation of this suspension.

"The Policy makes clear that NFL and club personnel must do more than simply avoid criminal behavior. We must conduct ourselves in a way that
'is responsible, that promotes the values upon which the league is based, and is lawful.' This standard reflects the recognition that the conduct
and behavior of our players and other league and team employees is critically important. Whether it involves your team or another, these incidents
affect us all -- every investigation, arrest, or other allegation of improper conduct undermines the respect for our league by our fans,
lessens the confidence of our business partners and threatens the continued success of our brand.
nfl

You know, I'm smelling a little conspiraceh here ... no one, including BR or the union seems to be putting much of an objection here, maybe he's
just counting his lucky stars he didn't get arrested/convicted and is just taking whatever they dish out hoping to put the whole thing behind
him.

For his sake, I hope he can, and learn from this and stay the hell out of places where this kind of nonsense can happen. There are maybe a half dozen
guys on the planet that have the opportunity he does. If he blows it, it's all on him.

I really wish Big Ben never got into this trouble. Especially with last years disappointment with not getting in the playoffs. No team wants to face
them in any playoff game. Out of 7 times we went to the Superbowl we have one 6 times. Every Steelers fan is eager for another Superbowl win but
this will definitely set us back. Dont you wish the suspension included preseason games???

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